1 Leave work at the office
Wired as we are to our laptops, this may sound unachievable, but try not to bring work home in the evening, or limit it to two nights a week. Alternatively, place a box or basket at your front door and dump all your work-related gear in it on arrival.
2 Write it down
If you battle to switch off from the stresses and strains of work, spend at least three minutes writing down your worries, then tear up the piece of paper and throw it away. This serves to clear your head space for more creative pursuits.
3 Make commuting fun
If you travel by car, listen to a book or a favourite CD, or read a book if you commute by metro. Do a Sudoku, write a poem, reflect, detach from electronics and mind-numbing activities as much as you can. Changing your mindset in this small way can change the mood of your day.
4 curl up with a book
According to a recent study conducted by Mindlab International at the University of Sussex in the UK, reading is the best way to relax. Volunteers were put through a series of exercises to increase their stress and heart levels. They were then given a number of methods to relax, and reading came out on top, reducing stress levels by 68 per cent. The study also showed that just six minutes of reading is all you need to unwind and it doesn't matter what you read. Psychologists believe reading is such a good tool because the human mind has to concentrate and this distraction eases tension in the muscles and heart.
5 See the funny side
Still the best medicine, laughter is one of the best ways of relieving anxiety. Whenever you're in a situation that tests your patience, take a step back. "Ask yourself, ‘If my friend were telling me this story, would we laugh about it?'" says clinical psychologist and author Shoshana Bennett.
6 Try your own water therapy
One of life's unsung luxuries, taking a bath, preferably with scented candles, is an indulgence many women swear by. If you have the privilege of owning one, make like Cleopatra and soak yourself in milk and honey. Dissolve 100ml of bicarbonate of soda and 220ml of salt in a litre of water. Then dissolve about 1.5 litres honey in 1.5 litres milk. Pour the soda and salt solution into the bath, before mixing in the honey and milk. Take at least 30 minutes at the end of the day, relax, light a candle and enjoy!
7 Get liberation Through meditation
If you don't have a garden or extra space for a meditation room, set aside a space in your home where you can be alone. When Sue Mallinson moved house, she quickly turned a rectangular space in the lounge into her private sanctuary. "I laid down my newly purchased Persian carpet, lined the walls with cushions and hung up Tibetan mandalas to create a peaceful ambience."
The simplest way to incorporate meditation into our busy lives, says Zen teacher Marc Lasser, is to follow four steps - you can do this during a meal, at your computer or in your car: See and visualise your breath, swirling down into the earth; notice how gravity pulls at your chin; notice the heat and temperature and energy field around your body; and concentrate on a quality you want more of in your life.
"Having a regular meditation practice makes for less stress, more flexibility and more connectedness with others," says Lasser. "You just need three minutes a day."
8 straighten things out
An untidy home creates the illusion of chaos and can make it difficult to focus. Take five minutes at the end of every day before you get into bed to straighten out the house and ensure you have a more ordered environment to retire to. Straighten out bath towels and sofa throws, put any dishes away and tidy any clothes that may be lying around.
9 Step out of it
Even going for a gentle stroll or taking the dog for a walk around the block can raise your heartbeat after a day chained to your desk. It releases endorphins and other feel-good chemicals which help increase positivity and help lift depression. "One of the most important steps to reverse your biological age is regular exercise. In this age of push-button technology, you run the risk of spending so much time in your mind that you neglect the needs of your body," says Deepak Chopra in Grow Younger, Live longer. "One of the critical needs of your body is to move. ‘Use it or lose it' is directly applicable to your physical body. As a result of not exercising regularly, we suffer increased risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis and cancer."
10 improve your breathing cycle
Learning the art of cyclical breathing can wipe away stress and emotional tension. Not only can it improve concentration and self-esteem, but you will probably find that you sleep better, and wake refreshed and ready for the day ahead. Sign up for the next Breath of Joy workshop at the new Kayan Wellness Centre on Al Wasl Road. The workshop costs Dh1,000 and involves three-hourly sessions every day for five or six days. Call 04-3445612 or visit mykayan.com. A
